Program for Extraordinary Experience Research

The Program for Extraordinary Research (PEER) "is no longer an active research project, however the knowledge amassed over the course of its existence continues to inform our efforts; elements of PEER's work may be found within many of our initiatives.

"The decision to formally conclude the PEER project was due in part to our belief that through our explorations we have reached an informed understanding of the phenomenon of alien encounters - or, to be more precise, we believe we reached as informed an understanding as our culture may presently be capable of appreciating.

"We feel that if we are to make significant new discoveries about the nature of the reported alien contact, we must first learn more about human contact - our connections to one another and to the world. Our efforts in this area have therefore shifted to promoting expanded awareness of human experience on the part of the greater culture, so that understanding of alien encounters (and other extraordinary experiences) and the context within which they occur may continue to be refined. We also remain dedicated to advancing responsible inquiry into this subject; we continue to discuss what we know of this phenomenon when appropriate, including, most recently, through support of the educational distribution of the independent documentary film Touched by Emmy nominated filmmaker Laurel Chiten, through lecture appearances by colleagues of the late Dr. John Mack, and selected media assistance...

"Intruiged by the apparent cross-over of these seemingly “mystical” experiences into the physical realm, Dr. Mack devoted twelve years to clinical investigation of more than 200 individuals who reported repeated experiences. The portrait that emerged shows narrative consistency, a close association with UFO sightings, and experiences that are shared by two or more people, for which no convincing clinical explanation exists.

"Dr. Mack's two books on the subject, Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens (1994) and Passport to the Cosmos: Human Transformation and Alien Encounters (1999) suggest that our culture has much to learn from these and other extraordinary experiences that shape our lives, regardless of their ontological status."